Duke opens Tangled Yarns exhibition at Cromford

His Grace the Duke of Devonshire has opened Tangled Yarns, a free exhibition by the artist Alke Schmidt, at Cromford Mills until October 25.

The exhibition explores the politics and morality of the textile industry from its historic past to the present day.

Originally commissioned by the William Morris Gallery in London, with support from Arts Council England, each work examines a different episode in the textile industry’s complex history.

As the world’s first successful water powered cotton spinning mill, built by Sir Richard Arkwright in 1771, Cromford Mills is a particularly appropriate place to host Tangled Yarns.

Catherine Roth, events and membership manager for Cromford Mills said: “We’re delighted to be able to host this thought provoking exhibition and especially pleased with ‘A Man of Consequences’ a piece specially completed for the exhibition here at Cromford Mills.”

Alke Schmidt completed her MA Fine Art at John Cass School of Art in London and has been exhibited widely in both solo and group shows in the UK and internationally.

Her work is in public and private collections in Europe and the USA. Alke lives and works in East London.

Picutred above from left to right are Sarah McLeod Chief Executive of the Arkwright Society, John Rivers Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Arkwright Society, Alke Schmidt, Oliver Stephenson High Sheriff of Derbyshire, Fiona Stephenson, and His Grace the Duke of Devonshire at the opening of the exhibition.